A CIRCUS boss has defended concerns from an animal rights organisation about the way its animals are kept.

Peter Jolly's Circus, which is visiting Barnard Castle, County Durham, this week has been criticised by the Captive Animals' Protection Society (Caps) for using animal acts.

However, Peter Jolly senior, who runs the circus with his son, also called Peter, has said his animals are treated well.

The circus is one of the few remaining in the country to use animals, including camels, zebras, horses and a Canadian black bear, called Ming.

Caps has said Ming should be rehomed in a sanctuary and has called for a ban on the use of animals in circuses.

Craig Redmond, campaigns officer for Caps, said: "We are not opposed to all circuses - just those with animal acts.

"The human performers can choose to be there, the animals have no choice."

However, Mr Jolly senior said his animals were well treated and no act lasted for more than seven minutes.

He said: "We have to get vetted and we have to get licences for the animals. We have had the people from animal health here yesterday.

"We have nothing to hide.

"Ming is 23 years old and has been with us since she was ten days old and I bottle fed her myself.

"We are based in Shropshire and we have built her an enclosure for when she is ready to retire.

"We've been on Heartbeat and they had animal health inspectors checking us for months before they filmed us.

"They wouldn't have touched us if there was anything wrong."